They produce a nice fat sound - perfect for rock, I`d say. More so than maybe a Fender Stratocaster.
Alex Lifeson has said (although he uses loads of different guitars nowadays) that Les Pauls still have the edge over all the other newer guitars he owns (soundwise, at least), - I know you`re a RUSH fan too S.H.E.E.P.

there really friggen expensive!!
and a lot of the pros use them so its probaly not the best starter.
maybe a strat rep is the best to start off with or whichever rep.
but then again there is no real starter guitar i mean i would have wanted to start out on a les paul

wiez Wrote:Are Les Pauls good starter guitars? My daughters father offered to buy her one but she turned him down.

She should have accepted - as they`re quite expensive.
But they are very heavy (in weight, I mean) - so that could be a problem-(depending on how strong your daughter is).
-Fenders are a lot lighter.
Again, all personal taste.

She wants a Gibson? How about a "semi-solid" one?
It would be lighter than a Les Paul, plus it would sound better
un-amplified too (being hollow).
Maybe a Gibson ES-335? (as used by Chuck Berry, B.B.King, Eric Clapton, amongst others) - with the "f"-holes .